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Harvard professor to discuss "why we should trust science" on Oct. 26

October 21, 2015

Harvard professor to discuss "why we should trust science" on Oct. 26

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Naomi Oreskes, professor of the history of science at Harvard University, will speak at the 2015 Colloquium on the Environment, which will take place at 6 p.m on Monday, Oct. 26, in the Freeman Auditorium in the HUB Robeson Center. Her talk titled, "Why we should trust science (most of the time)," will examine how the public can make sense of competing claims on topics such as vaccines and climate change, as well as what conditions undermine scientific integrity.

This event is free and open to the public; seating is on a first-come basis. An informal reception at the Hintz Family Alumni Center will follow.

"Naomi Oreskes has done groundbreaking scholarship on the scientific communication — and miscommunication — about smoking, toxins and climate change — all critical issues for human and environmental health. She is a captivating speaker that you will not want to miss," said Tom Richard, professor of agricultural and biological engineering and director of the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment (PSIEE).

"Naomi has provided great insight into the origins and workings of the modern day climate change denialism," said Michael E. Mann, professor of meteorology at Penn State and director of the Earth Systems Science Center (ESSC). "She has displayed strength and conviction in her willingness to call out bad actors. It’s an honor to co-host her visit to Penn State."

"Naomi has single-handedly elevated the public discourse of human-caused climate change, a topic of central interest within the ESSC and more generally here at Penn State," Mann said.

"Naomi challenges us to communicate our science effectively and accurately, and to make it widely accessible," said Jenni L. Evans, professor of meteorology and co-organizer of Science Communication Month. "By taking up this challenge, scientists can contribute meaningfully to societal discourse and help to inform policy."

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Naomi Oreskes, professor of the history of science at Harvard University, will present at the 2015 Colloquium on the Environment at 6 p.m. Oct. 26 in the HUB Freeman Auditorium. Oreskes, the author of "Merchants of Doubt" and "The Collapse of Western Civilization: A View from the Future," will present a talk titled, "Why we should trust science (most of the time)." This event is part of Science Communication Month at Penn State.